Canada’s exports to the whole British Empire are almost two hundred millions a year.[2] Her aggregate trade with the British Empire has increased three hundred per cent. since confederation, or from one hundred and seven to three hundred and sixteen millions.  With the United States, her aggregate trade has increased from eighty-nine to six hundred and eight millions.  For one dollar’s worth she buys in England, she buys four dollars’ worth in the United States.  Here trade is not following the flag, and the flag is not following trade.  Trade is following its own channels independent of the flag.

V

What is the future portent of the great migration of Englishmen of the best blood and traditions to Canada?  There can be only one portent—­a Greater Britain Overseas, and Canada herself has not in the slightest degree wakened to what this implies.  She knows that her railroads are a safe and shorter path to the Orient than by Suez; and in a cursory way she may also know that the nations of the world are maneuvering for place and power on the Pacific; but that she may be drawn into the contest and have to fight for her life in it—­she hardly grasps.  If you told Canada that within the life of men and women now living her Pacific Coast may bristle with as many forts and ports as the North Sea—­you would be greeted with an amused smile.  Yet all this may be part of the destiny of a Greater Britain Overseas.

With men such as Sir John Macdonald and Laurier and Borden on the roster roll of Canada’s great, one dislikes to charge that Canadian statesmen have not grown big enough for their job.  The Aztec Indians used to cement their tribal houses with human blood.  Canada’s part in the Great War may be the blood-sign above the lintel of her new nationality.

[1] I have variously referred to Canada’s population as five million, seven million, and over seven million.  Five million was Canada’s population before the great influx of colonists began.  The census figures of 1911 give Canada’s population as 7,204,838.  Add to this the immigration for 1912, and you get the Department of Labor figures—­7,758,000.  If you add the immigration for 1913 the total must be close on 8,000,000.

[2] The figures are from the official Trade and Commerce Report, Part I, 1914:  They tabulate the trade of 1913 thus:  Imports from United Kingdom, $138,741,736; imports from United States, $435,770,081.  Average duty imports United Kingdom, 25.1.  Average duty imports United States, 24.1.  Per cent. of goods from U. K., 20.1; per cent. of goods from U. S., 65.1.

Exports to United Kingdom, $177,982,002; exports to United States, $150,961,675.  Percentage goods exported U. K., 47.1; percentage goods exported U. S., 40.1.

CHAPTER VII

THE COMING OF THE FOREIGNER